EGHAM TOWN 2 POTTERS BAR TOWN 2

EVO-STIK SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE CENTRAL
SATURDAY 14 MARCH 2015
EGHAM TOWN 2 (2) POTTERS BAR TOWN 2 (2)
Danny Bassett (25, pen), Brendan Matthew (32) / Josh Hutchinson (18), Mark Brown (70)

Egham Town ended a four match losing streak in an entertaining match against Potters Bar Town, but will be regretting the loss of two points after recovering from going behind. The midweek loss at Kettering Town was more notable for the spirited, goalless, second half performance than the first in which Egham let in five. It showed that there is a burgeoning team understanding that should see a decent end to a difficult season.
Koo Dumbuya’s midweek team selection was hampered by withdrawals but one story rose to the surface. Right back Danny Williamson was arrested before the match, then released when the police realised they had the wrong man. Nothing daunted, he wasn’t going to miss the match, and caught the train to Kettering. That’s dedication for you. Not surprisingly that meant he was in the starting line-up. Troy Ferguson, sick midweek, was named as captain. Otherwise the line-up was pretty much as it was against the divisional leaders, and in the first 18 minutes it looked good for them. Then Josh Hutchinson drilled in a low, angled shot that beat Egham keeper Jamie Cunningham and it looked as if the visitors, with three wins since a change of team management, could be making it four. Egham responded well, though, with Danny Bassett playing a lovely through ball to Josh Andrew, who cut inside and fired in a shot that was blocked as far as Brendan Matthew, who was denied by Ben Goode in The Scholars’ goal. Then Egham equalised. A clever pass by Bassett found Andrew, whose run into the box was terminated by Laurence Raspoli’s upraised leg in the penalty area. With usual spot kick man Reis Stanislaus on the bench it fell to Bassett to take the kick, which he did with Stanislausian power for his first goal in Egham colours. That came seven minutes after the Sarnies went behind; seven minutes later they were ahead. Andrew worked his magic again, racing down to the byline before pulling the ball back to Bassett, whose shot was blocked by Goode, but only as far as Matthew, who scored. There is one thing that all Egham fans want, which is to see Brendan Matthew stick the ball in the net more regularly. He works hard, never complains, has great speed and skill and clearly loves Egham Town FC. He has been on and off the bench under a string of managers and it would gladden the heart of the Sarnie faithful to see that talent reap more reward. Egham were the dominant side by this time but in the last move of the half Cunningham had to make a very good save off Tyler Hatherly’s free kick.
Central defender Yinka Salami went off at half time, suffering from an upset stomach, with Ben Hunter replacing him. Just past the hour Stanislaus replaced Basram Peshaj, who had had an impressive first half. Seconds later Andrew made it to the byline and pulled back for Matthew, but the shot was blocked. It proved to be an important intervention because three minutes later Raspoli hit a hopeful punt into the Egham box, Cunningham did not get quite enough on the ball and Mark Brown headed in for 2-2. It could have been worse, which would have been unfair, as Chris Doyle, out on the Potters Bar left wing, hit an audacious cross shot that struck the face of the back post. Bassett and Matthew were denied by Scholars’ defenders, then at the death Luke Neville cleared Hutchinson’s drive. The replacement of Andrew, Egham’s MOM, by Haluna Masembe was too late to make any difference.
EGHAM TOWN: Jamie Cunningham, Danny Williamson, Mitchell Gutteridge, Troy Ferguson, Yinka Salami, Luke Neville, Josh Andrew, Jordan Carter, Danny Bassett, Basram Peshaj, Brendan Matthew. Substitutes: Ben Hunter (Salami, HT), Reis Stanislaus (Peshaj, 62), Masembe (Andrew, 90+3), Chris Smith, Seb Castello.